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Wife’s Responsibility: Being A Help Mate Introduction: One of the problems that quickly leads to failure is not understanding one’s role(s). Each player on a team must understand their duty and perform it. What is the role of a preacher? Basically it is to preach the word of God. What is the role of the woman in marriage? The fact the older were instructed to teach the younger women means young ladies do not instinctively know what to do. One problem has been a lack of ladies teaching on this area. I) Genesis 2.18 A) Various translations: 1. "a help meet for him" (American Bible) 2. "a helper comparable to him" (NKJV) 3. "a help mate, his like" (Darby Bible) 4. "a help meet for him" (KJV) 5. "a helper suitable for him" (NIV) 6. "a helper…as his counterpart" (Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible) a. Think of a counter balance, we used to carry water up the hill to the house. It was easier to carry two 5 gallon buckets rather than 1 bucket, due to the two buckets balancing each other out. B) What she is not… 1. His rival, or his enemy (because she thinks differently she may be viewed negatively) a. Some husbands and wives never learn to be friends; trust each other; to work together b. Happy marriages are marriages where they have built their lives together 2. His mother, he already has one of those 3. Another man C) She is… 1. Made in the image of God, Genesis 1.26-27 2. A person with free will and moral obligations 3. To leave father and mother and to be joined to her husband, Genesis 2.24 II) Her Responsibility Before God A) To serve God and be faithful to Him, Matthew 22.37ff 1. God comes before one’s spouse or children B) In her marriage she is to fulfill her obligations as designated by God 1. The Wedding Covenant involves God, even if she has a lousy husband 2. She must abstain from sin, Sapphira had no obligation to do what Ananias suggested, Acts 5.1-10 3. Ephesians 5.22; Colossians 3.18 limits her responsibility to "in the Lord" meaning in serving God. a. Wife is not to do anything her husband ask if it contradicts God’s word b. She is not to forsake God for the sake of her marriage III) To Be Her Husband’s Help Mate A) She is to encourage him in that which is right 1. Allow him to fail and make mistakes as long as they do not risk his or your soul a. Husbands listen to your wife’s advice and warnings b. She is trying to help you, wisdom listens to sound advice 2. Do not complain when circumstances are not good, 1 Peter 3.5-6 B) Allow him to be the head of the household 1. Not undermine his authority with the children 2. Do not talk about him behind his back 3. Be a keeper of the home, Titus 2.5 a. There is a difference in working to escape the home and working to help the home. Lydia helper to help, Acts 16.14-15 b. Husbands need to respect the wife’s authority in the home, do not undermine her with the children. Prov. 5.20 C) Be his spiritual helper 1. A model for the children in her manner of dress, speech, etc. 2. If he is not a Christian, present the proper example, 1 Peter 3.1ff. 3. If he is a Christian encourage him to grow spiritually. 4. Some women has hindered their husbands from preaching and being qualified to serve as deacons and elders, 1 Timothy 3.11 a. Mother told her daughter to not marry a man that wanted to preach b. Another said she would have never married the man she did if she had realized he would become a preacher D) Teach your children God’s word, 2 Timothy 1.5 Conclusion: There is no higher call for a woman than to be a Christian wife and mother. As women have forsaken their roles as wives and mothers our homes have collapsed and souls have been lost. D.T. @ Westside Church of Christ 05.20.07 |